Pathways to Politics Program for Women

The Pathways to Politics Program Advisory Committee consists of six members. The Committee meets on a monthly basis to provide strategic oversight and ensure the high quality of the program.

Stephanie Amir, Program Manager

Stephanie Amir is the Program Manager for the Pathways to Politics Program. She has worked across all three levels of government in research, policy development, as secretariat for a Victorian parliamentary committee and advisor to Ellen Sandell MP. She has also worked as a social policy consultant advising clients in the government and community sectors, and as a manager at the Foundation for Young Australians. She has a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Arts and postgraduate specialist certificate in Social Inclusion, all from the University of Melbourne. Outside the university she is on the Board of Directors at community radio station JOY 94.9 and is proud to be the youngest current Councillor at the City of Darebin.

Dr Andrea Carson

Dr Andrea Carson, lecturer in Media and Politics, The University of Melbourne. Andrea Carson is also an honorary fellow at the University's Centre for Advancing Journalism. Her research interests include the relationship between news media and democracy, the role of investigative journalism, digital media and political communication. Andrea writes and commentates about Australian politics and is an academic advisor to Vote Compass (ABC) and Election Watch (The University of Melbourne). Her research examines voter behaviour, and electoral studies more broadly. Andrea has previously worked in both the media and political spheres. She was a news journalist at The Age and has worked as a reporter, producer and broadcaster in radio (ABC 774, 3RRR) television (7.30 Report) and online (The Age, ABC). She was the national media officer to Bill Shorten at the Australian Workers' Union. Before commencing her PhD, Andrea produced ABC 774's morning radio program with Jon Faine. She regularly contributes opinion pieces (and podcasts) to The Age, The Conversation, The Drum, New Matilda, Crikey, The Citizen and has a regular guest commentator role on ABC 774 and ABC TV 24 news breakfast. A recent highlight was broadcasting the 2016 Australian federal election results live with Jon Faine.

Meredith Martin

Dr Meredith Martin is Associate Director Cultural Engagement in Chancellery at the University of Melbourne. Chancellery Engagement works with academic divisions to shape the University’s commitment to lead and influence public conversations and policy development. Meredith leads the University’s Cultural Impact strategy and sets the agenda for the University’s major cultural partnerships. Meredith was instrumental to the introduction of the discipline of media and communications at the University and has been Research Fellow on a number of applied research projects funded by the Australian Research Council. Meredith was a member of the inaugural team that established the Pathways to Politics for Women initiative.

Amy Mullins

Amy Mullins is Executive Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia. She leads and manages the institute, which seeks to increase the visibility of women in leadership and catalyse system-changing solutions to achieve gender balanced representation. Amy is passionate about women and men having equal opportunity to thrive and lead in their chosen fields.

Amy oversees the implementation and strategic direction of the Pathways to Politics Program for Women from the WLIA and the Trawalla Foundation. Amy is also an advisor to the Male Champions of Change.

Until recently, Amy was the inaugural Co-Program Director of the Property Male Champions of Change and helped found the group of 21 top executives in the property sector.

Amy is the host of Uncommon Sense, a weekly radio talk show on Australia’s oldest independent broadcaster, Triple R FM. She is a commentator on federal politics and public policy, having appeared on ABC Radio National, SBS World News, the Guardian Australia, Sky News, and ABC News 24. Her writing has been archived by the National Library of Australia.

Carol Schwartz AM

Carol Schwartz AM is one of Australia’s leading business identities. She has extensive experience in business, property, the arts, and community organisations and has been a director on a number of public companies and government boards.

Carol is Chair of the Trawalla Foundation, Chair of Our Community, Founding Chair of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, Chair of Creative Partnerships Australia and Convenor of the Property Male Champions of Change. Carol’s current directorships include the Reserve Bank of Australia, Stockland, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Trawalla Group, Qualitas Property Partners, and Scale Investors Ltd.

She is also a member of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board, a member of the Council of Advisors at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney, an Executive in Residence at Melbourne Business School, a council member of the Australian Innovation Research Centre, University of Tasmania, a board member Centre for Advanced Journalism, University of Melbourne, a member of the Enterprise Melbourne Advisory Board, and a member the Advance Global Advisory Council.

Professor Andrew Walter

Andrew Walter is the Interim Director of Melbourne School of Government. Andrew specialises in International Political Economy and joined the University of Melbourne as Professor of International Relations in 2012. His previous academic posts were at Oxford University and most recently at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was also academic director of the TRIUM Global Executive MBA Program. He has been a visiting professor at universities across the globe, including Canada, Japan and America.

Andrew sits on the editorial board of the Review of International Studies, the journal of the British International Studies Association. He has co-authored and published many titles including East Asian Capitalism: Diversity, Change & Continuity, Analysing the Global Political Economy, Governing Finance: East Asia's Adoption of International Standards, and China, the United States and Global Order.